Tell us a little bit about your time at USM. What brought you here, and what was it like pursuing your degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies while pursuing your goals as a student-athlete?
On the day of my high school graduation in 2022, if you had told me I would graduate from USM, I never would have believed it. USM allowed me to continue my basketball career and finish my bachelor’s degree. Following the 2024-25 basketball season, I was not even sure I wanted to continue playing at all, which prompted my decision to transfer. After speaking with Coach Chadbourne and visiting the USM campus, I knew that it was a place where I could thrive. From the other student-athletes on the team to the support on and off the basketball court, it felt like a place where I would be able to rediscover my passion for the game of basketball.
USM turned out to be not only a perfect fit for me on the court, but off the court as well. On the court, our team had a lot of success, winning the Little East Conference championship and making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Every day, I had the opportunity to practice and play with teammates that I truly enjoyed being around and with a coaching staff who believed in me. Off the court, I had the opportunity to be an intern for Special Olympics Maine through the Career and Employment Hub. The internship gave me valuable experience, while connecting to my degree and future plans to work in athletics.
Being a transfer student-athlete, so many people have asked me in the past year if I was happy with the decision, and the answer is simple. The experiences, opportunities, friendships, and connections that I have built at USM will last a lifetime. Choosing USM to continue my basketball career and complete my degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
What advice would you give to other students currently balancing both academics and athletics?
One of the biggest pieces of advice I could give to a current student-athlete is to avoid letting your sport define who you are. For so much of my life, I was so focused on basketball and playing in college that I let my performance dictate how I felt about everything else in my life. I believed that who I was on the court defined who I was off the court. This mentality slowly chipped away at my confidence until there was barely anything left, and I did not recognize the player or person that I was anymore. My time at USM allowed me to discover that I am so much more than just an athlete. I stopped attaching myself to how I performed in basketball, which allowed me to find so much more joy and gratitude for everything in my life.
You were awarded LEC Player of the Year, helped the USM Huskies win the LEC tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament, and were named a WBCA All-American. How does it feel to have accomplished so much, and how do you see basketball playing a role in your future?
Going into this past basketball season, I was at my lowest from a confidence standpoint. I was not even sure I was good enough to play at any level of college basketball anymore. There were many individual awards that I was honored with and am very grateful for from this past year, but none are as important to me as the success that our team had. Winning the LEC championship on our homecourt and defeating Bowdoin to make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament were two of the most special moments of my basketball career. The way that our team believed in each other, supported each other, and truly enjoyed being around each other every day was something that stands out above any individual accomplishment. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to play with such amazing teammates and coaches, with such a supportive campus environment behind us.
Congratulations on your recent graduation! What comes next for you, and what are you most excited about?
I am excited to be returning to USM in the fall to pursue my Master’s degree in Public Policy, Planning, and Management. Returning to USM provides me with the opportunity to continue to work with Coach Chadbourne and the women’s basketball team to gain experience as a student-assistant coach. I am also thrilled to be joining the softball team at USM for my last year of athletic eligibility outside of basketball. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue my athletic career and rekindle my love for another sport that I grew up playing. Long-term, I am hoping to continue to work in sports, where I can make a positive impact on the lives of young athletes. My goal is to empower young women to become strong leaders and role models through sport.